Crisper pan for domestic refrigerators



JuneZ, 1942. w, RUNDELL I I 2,285,363

cRIsPER' PAN FOR DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS Filed Oct. 19,- 1940 Patented June 2, 1942 i Theollorewi .iBundell, Lienirintown, Pa. assiznor l to Philco Corporation, Philadelphiaylm, a corporation of Pennsylvania -1 Applicants sts 19, 1940, smarts. 361,910

e Claims. (or. 312-150) J meteor tesens, an useful an;

ve n s i l-lcr nr n n s t r" o e t r ra e s v1 The in domestic refrigerators of crisper Q3 5 hy e r 9 P e Y V e9 ta fruitspand. the, lilre prevalent and well knowng n ilh w e ti esa e s ia m w sphev n 9m rise :sinsk-renlthat} ex e ds: tire y across the, hottomof the food; compartment, while mple dla d ra o belp siti nfe in, either 1 the a twopamn enshc Pen e b Figure 5 is a view insection taken on line 5-- 5, Figurez. l n r Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken onlijne 6-6, Figure 2; and r A r r Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sectiontaken on line l'LFigure l. Referring-[now to the drawing, and particularly to Figured thereoflreference numeral In designates, generally, "a domestic refrigerator p having, a food storage compartment II in which i is. located the usual cooling unit I2 and supportrbrid r lati "o s acke Queen 9 091 the otherfias desired.

by; stacking the crisper pans one uponthe other therein rovi d a dma w a b e sm of substantial width and height forithe s 'eflrfi eof foodvstuffs. and articles 01; relatively; large size.

b H weve j ons derabletobiec i n h sb e ncoun e ed with .s c err neeme tsibi n; r r

pa s-.101 the. reas n 7: that prior to y e r en mg shelves l ii. As shown in Figure 1, supported onjthe bottom or floor of the refrigerator food compartment liiin sideby-side relation area pair of 'frame structures ll one of which mounts acrisper parrii.

According to the prese t invention the} frame structures H are identicaland each comprises a heavy wire skeleton which is openat the front and has parallel side portions 16,]acbnnecting rearportion l'v'l, integral front legs "I! and a rear invention h y :havei e n g er l y bo e me to d eandJ more. 0 1 e p l ca d r ttures l and fastenings have been provided; within the refrigerator food compartment for securing andh l ns in :p acerth ,n c sam cr s e n or framestructures; when positioned. n their sidee:

bY-sideand {superimposed relationships as afore-L with;strategists inind thegprincipal 15;

jectof the present {invention is to provide a novel; construction andw; arrangement of crisper pans and frames therefor which may be secured inl eitherside-by-si-de: orlstaeked superimposed re-: ation 1 without-the u s cia s ni or other; structure in the foodcompartrnent oof the refrigerator, 7 l l i r andother the invention and the various features and details of the construc tion. 1 and arrangement thereof are hereinafter fully setforth and described and shown in the c pan e,d win ..-inwhicht 1 l .p l

Figure; 1 a viewin. perspective of a refrig-I erator showing the interior thereofnwith the crisper =,pa n frame of the members of r the present invention arrangedtherein in sideFby-sidefl relation. l A t y F ur l a new n. Pers i o l a ri pan frame structure embodying. the gpresent invention. a

r t 1 5;. Figure 3 s a new in perspective "of n a pair of legor supportconsisting of a U-shaped member I51, welded or otherwise secured to the nares;

Secured in spaced relation upon the horizontal span 18a of the member I! are sleeves? of rubber or othersuitable material and correspondinglysecured upon the skeleton rear portion l1 aredforwardly facing upstanding eurvedkhook elem'ents2l, the latter Ononejframe being arrangedgfor engagement'by the sleeve portions 20 of another framewhen two such frames are arranged in superimposed relation as hereinafter setforth 1 [l v n l 1 Superimposed upon the side portions Hijof. the wireskeleton is a frame member 22 comprising integral front 1 and side portions. having, 'respectivelyQth crosssection shapes shown in Figures 6 and? of the drawing, and this frame member 22hhas its depending side flange portions 23 weldedfor otherwise permanently secured to the. outersurf acesof the sidejportions it of the wire skeleton so that the projecting flanges 24 at opposit'e upper side edges of a crisper pan l5 may" slidably engage. over the said skeletonside por tions 16' (see Figure 7) thereby permitting a crisper pan to be slidably suspended within the said wire skeleton.

as a cover for theunderlying crisper pan.

For the purpose of securing the frame structures l4 within the refrigerator food storage compartment II when resting on the bottom or floor thereof, there is, provided on eachof the skeleton side portions It a depending rearwardly facing hookelement 21 and a depending finger or the 1ike29 arranged for cooperative engagement, respectively, with pairs of studs 29 secured to the opposite side walls of said food storage compartment ll. 5

7 These studs 29 may be ordinary shelf-supporting studs each having inner and outer radial flange portions 30 and 3| which provide therebetween a central circumferential portion 32 of reduced diameter, and they are positioned in horizontally spaced relation with the compartment I I so that the hook element 21 on the wall side of the frame structure ll will engage the innermost stud 29 forwardly thereof (see Figure 7) while the finger 29 engages, the forward stud 29 rearwardly thereof. The hook 21 and finger 29 engage the studs 29 in the reducedcentral portions 32 thereof and it will be seen that when thus engaged the frame structure is secured against horizontal movement withinthe food compartment ll. Too, it will be observed that this constructionand arrangement'of hook elements 21,

fingers 28 andstuds 291s such that the frame structure is prevented from tilting when the crisper pan [5 is drawn forwardly out of said frame structure. Since the frame structures H are of identical construction on opposite sides thereof it will be obvious that two such structuresmay be interchangeably secured and held in the foregoing manner in side by side relation on the floor or bottom of the refrigerator compartment l I as shown in Figure l.

When'it becomes'necessaryor it is desired to remove either or both of the framestructures ll the structures into the refrigerator compartment is easily done by merely reversing the procedure employed to remove them.

As stated, the crisper pan assemblies may be disposed and secured within the food compartment .ll either in side by side relation as previously described, or they may be superimposed oneupon the other in stacked relation, This latter may be done merely by placing one of the assemblies upon the other and then slightly tilting upwardly and partially withdrawing the cover 26 member of the lower assembly whereupon the upper assembly may be moved rearwardly to engage its sleeve elements 20 with the hook elements 2| at the rearof the lower, after which the said cover member 26 of the latter is lowered into place on its frame member 22 thereby holding the sleeve portions 20 in engagement with said hooks 2']: and securing the two pan assemblies with respect to each other in stacked relation (see Figures 4 and 3). The upper pan assembly may be removed byfirst tilting and partiallywithdrawing the lower cover member 26 as aforesaid and then moving said upper assembly forwardly a distance suflicient to disen-' gage its sleeves 20 fromthe hooks-2| at the rear of the lower assembly. 1

From the foregoing it will be seen that the v75 present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive construction and arrangement of crisper pans and frames therefor that is quite novel and enables them readily and easily to be secured in either side by side or stacked superimposed relation within a refrigerator interchangeably and without the use of special or complicated fastenings or other structures in the food compartment thereof.

While-a particular embodiment of this invention has been-herein illustrated and described, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure but that changes and modifications may be embodied and incorporated therein a within the scope of the annexed claims.

' I claim:

1. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and a pair of horizontally spaced studs secured to each side of the food storage compartment, a pair of similar frame structures arranged in said food storagecompartment in rela tively superimposed stacked relation on the floor of the food storage compartment and adapted to be placed in side by side relation on the floor of said compartmentinterchangeably, a crisper pan slidably supported by each of said frame structures and arranged for horizontal sliding movement in the compartment, means including a removable cover on each of the frame structures arranged for cooperative interengagement to secure said frame structures relative to each other in superimposed relation, and means on each of the frame structures arranged to releasably engage the studs on the adjacent side of the food storage compartment and secure the frame structures against movement when disposed on the floor of said compartment.

2. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and a pair of horizontally spaced studs secured to each side of the food storage compartment, a pair of similar frame structures arranged in said food storage compartment in relatively superimpbsed stacked relation on the floor of the food storage compartment and adapted to be placed in side by side relation on the floor of said compartment interchangeably, said structures each comprising a skeleton open at the front end and having spaced parallel side portions, a rear portion and depending supporting legs at the front and rear thereof, a frame member including front and side portions superimposed on said skeleton and permanently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said frame member'providing a surfacefor engagement by the depending front legs of the other frame structure when superimposed thereon, a removable 4 cover member on each frame structure, and means secured to the rear portion of the skeleton constructed and arranged for cooperation with its removable cover member to engage a depending supporting leg at the rear of a superimposed frame structure to secure said frame structures with respect to each other in superimposed stacked relation.

3. A refrigerator crisper pan assembly comprising a frame structure including a skeleton open at the front end and having spacedparallel side portions, a rear portion and depending supporting legs at the front and rear thereof, a frame member including front and side portions superimposed on said skeleton and permanently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said frame member providing a surface for engagement by the depending front legs of another frame structure of like construction when superported by the frame member, means secured, to

thefrear'portion of the skeleton constructed and.

arranged f, for cooperation with the removable cover member to engage a-'depending supporting leg at. the jrearrof asuperimposed frame struc hire to secure said frame structures with respect to each other in superimposed stacked relation, a crisper pan having flanges along its upper side edges slidably supportedin said frame structure,

I e the flanges of said pan being engaged over the side portions of the skeleton and slidable thereon. 4, A refrigerator crisper pan frame structure frame structures with respect to each otherin l superimposed stacked relation, a crisper pan having flanges along its upper side edges slidably supported in said frame structure, the flanges of said pan benig engaged over the sideportions of the skeleton and slidable thereon, and a hook andflnger secured in "sp relatmn with spect toeach other on oneof the side portions of the skeleton and arranged for engagement respectively with fastenings in the refrigerator interior to secure the frame structure therein including a skeleton open at the front endand having spaced parallel side portions, a rear portion, depending front legs and a depending horizontal support at the rear thereof, a frame momher including front and side portions superimposed on said skeleton and permanently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said frame member providing a surface for engagement by .the depending front legs of another frame structure of like construction when superimposed thereon, a removable cover member supported by the frame member, and forwardly facing upstanding curved hook-elements secured to the against horizontal displacement.

7. A refrigerator crisper pan frame. structure including a skeleton open at the front end havingspaced parallel side portions,a rear portion, depending front legs and a depending horizontal support at the rear thereof, a framemember including front and side portions superimposed on said skeleton and permanently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said frame member providing asurface for engagement by.

the depending front legs of another frame structure of like construction when superimposed rear portion of the skeleton constructed and arranged for cooperation with the removable cover member to engage the depending rear horizontal support of the superimposed frame structure to secure said structures with respect. to each other in superimposed stacked relation.

5. A refrigerator crisper pan assembly including a skeleton open at the front end and. having spaced parallel side portions, a rear portion, de-

thereon, a removable cover member supported by the frame member, forwardly facing upstanding curved hook elements secured to the rear portion of theskeleton constructed and arranged for cooperation with the removable cover member to engage the depending rear horizontal support of the superimposed frame structure therebyto secure said structures with respect to each other in superimposed stacked relation, and elements on each side portion of the skeleton arranged for engagement with fastenings at one side of pending front legs and a depending horizontal support at the rear thereof, sleeve elements on the depending rear horizontal" support,,a frame member including front and side portions 'super-. imposed on said skeleton and permanently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said framemember providing a surface for engagement by the depending front legs of another frame structure of likeconstruction when superimposed thereon, a removable cover member supported by the frame member, upstanding curved elementssecured to the rear portionof the skelethe depending rear horizontal support, a frame member including front and side portions super-, imposed on said skeleton and permanently seton constructed and arranged for cooperation sleeve elements on the depending rear horizontal support of the superimposed frame structure thereby .to secure saidstructures with respect to each other in superimposed stacked relation, a crisper pan having flanges along its upper side edges slidably supported in said frame structure,

- the flanges of said pan being engaged over the side portions of theskeleton and slidable thereon. 4

i with the removable cover member to engage the the refrigerator interior to secure the frame structure therein against horizontal and tilting movement.

8. A refrigerator crisper pan assembly including a skeleton open at thev front end and having spaced parallel side portions, a rear portion. depending front legs and a depending horizontal support at the rear thereof, sleeve elements'on cured to the' side portions of said skeleton, said frame member providing a surface for engagement by the depending front legs of another frame structure of like construction when superimposed thereon, a removable cover member supportedby the frame member, upstanding curved 6. A refrigerator crisper pan assembly comprising a frame structure including a skeleton open at the front end and having spaced parallel side portions, a rear portion and depending supporting legs at the front and rear thereof, a

frame member including front and; side. porelements secured to the rear portion of the skeleton constructed and arranged for. cooperation with the removable cover member to engage the sleeve elements on the depending rear horizontal support of the superimposed frame structure thereby to secure said structures with respect to each otherin superimposed stacked relation, 1a

crisper pan having flanges alongits upper side edges slidably supported in said frame structure, the flanges of said pan being engaged over i the side portions of the skeleton and slidable tions superimposed on said skeleton and peri manently secured to the side portions of said skeleton, said frame member providing a surface. for engagementby the depending front legs of superimposed thereon, a removable cover member supported by the. frame member, means se-.

cured to the rear portion of the skeleton constructed and arranged for cooperation with the j removable cover member to engage the depending supporting leg at therear of a superim posed frame structure thereby to secure said another frame structure of like construction; when thereon, and elements on each side portion of the skeleton arranged. for engagement with fastenings at one side of the refrigerator interior to secure the frame structure therein against horizontal-and tilting movement.-

9. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and a pairof horizontally spaced studs secured to each side of the food storage com-.

partment, a pair of similar frame structures arranged in said food storage compartmentin relatively superimposed stacked relation on the floor of said food storage compartment and adapted to be placed in side by side relation on the floor of said compartment; intei'changeably, said .struc tures each comprising a skeleton open at the front end and havingspaded parallel sidepor tions, at rear portion and depending supporting' legs atthe front and rear' thereofj ablane shelf member carried by-said ske1eton, forwardly fa'c ing upstanding hook means secured to the rear portion of said skeleton constructed and arranged,

for engagement by :a depending v-sl-lppqlitin g :1e g of the other. skeleton superimposed .athereonhsaid shelf 7 member normallyznnderlyinggsaid 113st: men tioned su ortinglle "to. maintain said leg 1n interlocking engagement :with :;said hook means tion. e.

THEODORE IRI'INDEIJL. 

